Tag Archives: East Asia

Joseph S. Nye Jr.: A Personal Remembrance of the Father of “Soft Power”

. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

An article from the Center for China and Globalization (abridged)

Joseph S. Nye Jr., an influential figure in international relations who shaped decades of American foreign policy and introduced the world to the enduring concept of “soft power,” died on Tuesday (May 6) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the age of 88. A former dean of Harvard’s Kennedy School and senior official in the U.S. government, Nye’s passing marks a profound loss for scholars, diplomats, and policymakers across the globe.
In the wake of his death, Henry Huiyao Wang, founder and president of the Center for China and Globalization (CCG), reflected (as follows) on his 15-year-long relationship with Professor Nye, whose ideas and writings had deeply influenced U.S.–China dialogue over the years. . .

I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Professor Joseph S. Nye Jr., the originator of the concept of “soft power” and former dean of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, on May 6 at the age of 88. His wife had preceded him in death not long before. I had the privilege of knowing Professor Nye for many years and engaging in numerous conversations and exchanges with him. He once remarked, “One has to imagine not just power over other countries, but power with other countries. These issues, the transnational issues, cannot be solved by exerting power over other countries. You have to have power with other countries.” His death is a profound loss to the fields of international strategy and international relations.

I first met Professor Nye in 2010, when I was a senior fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where he had served as a professor and dean. During his tenure as dean, he actively promoted many China–U.S. exchange programs, and even after stepping down, he remained deeply engaged in these efforts. He delivered lectures to us with undiminished enthusiasm, and though already in his seventies, he was always full of energy and vitality.

We connected immediately and shared many engaging conversations, maintaining a close and meaningful dialogue over the years. After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) launched the CCG Global Dialogues series to overcome barriers imposed by the pandemic and sustain international exchange. In April 2021, I invited Professor Nye to participate in a discussion titled “Power Shifts in the Twenty-First Century.” He readily accepted and spoke with me for over an hour.

That same year, he contributed a forward-looking essay, “China and the United States: Looking Forward 40 Years,” to the book Consensus or Conflict? China and Globalization in the 21st Century, which I edited.

In our conversations, Professor Nye described what he called a pattern of “ups and downs roughly every twenty years” in U.S.–China relations. Looking back historically, he noted that the first 20 years after 1945 were “pretty tough,” with U.S. and Chinese soldiers having fought each other on the Korean Peninsula in the 1950s. This was followed by a period of easing tensions, marked by President Nixon’s visit to Beijing, which ushered in 20 years of improving relations. During the Clinton administration, there was a concerted effort to integrate a rising China into the international order through initiatives such as accession to the World Trade Organisation. That phase lasted nearly two decades. However, with the emergence of Donald Trump around 2015–2016, a new downturn began. We are now midway through this latest 20-year cycle, with 2025 marking the midpoint. Nye suggested that by 2035, relations could begin to improve once again. He elaborated on this perspective in his essay “Power Shifts in the Twenty-First Century.” Whether this 20-year cycle will hold remains to be seen. . . .

Fifteen years have passed in the blink of an eye. Professor Nye left a lasting impression on me with his intellect, broad perspective, foresight, and remarkable humility. Even in retirement, he remained deeply engaged with developments in the United States and around the world, frequently publishing incisive commentary on international affairs. He continued to travel extensively, attending major conferences and chairing key sessions, including at the Munich Security Conference, and often appeared in media interviews. He also held prominent roles in multinational organisations and NGOs such as the Aspen Strategy Group and the Trilateral Commission, consistently working to foster dialogue and mutual understanding across borders. . . .

What stood out to me over the years of knowing Professor Nye was that he personally replied to every email I sent. In all our conversations, he was consistently modest and unassuming, and that moved me deeply.

Professor Nye’s life can be seen as a vivid reflection of the “American Century.” Born in 1937, he came of age after World War II, as the United States entered a period of global ascendancy—an era in which it accounted for more than half of the world’s economic output and abounded with opportunity. The son of immigrant ancestors, Nye was raised in rural New Jersey. His father was a partner at a bond firm; his mother worked as a secretary. He received his early education in local public schools and, through diligence and academic distinction, earned admission to Princeton University. He later pursued graduate studies at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and then at Harvard University, where he studied under renowned scholars such as Henry Kissinger.
(article continued in right column)

Question for this article:

Does China promote a culture of peace?

(Article continued from the left column)

Both Nye and Graham Allison, the founding dean of the Harvard Kennedy School, studied abroad in the UK and returned to the U.S. with a broad international outlook. Nye went on to teach at Harvard for decades, where he developed influential concepts including “soft power,” “smart power,” and “neoliberalism.” His insights into the nature of power in international relations shaped generations of policymakers, scholars, and students around the world. In 2011, Foreign Policy magazine included him on its list of Top 100 Global Thinkers.

When I first met Professor Nye at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, U.S.–China relations were still in a relatively positive phase. At the time, American foreign policy—shaped by the aftermath of 9/11—was primarily focused on counterterrorism and the Middle East. China had recently marked the tenth anniversary of its accession to the World Trade Organisation, and during the 2008 global financial crisis, it worked closely with the United States to stabilise the global economy and promote recovery.

With the perceptiveness of a leading scholar in international politics, Professor Nye had been observing China’s rise for over a decade. In a 1998 article, he argued that the term “rise of China” was a misnomer and that “re-emergence” would be more accurate. In the years that followed, he published numerous articles analysing China’s soft power. He wrote about the appeal of traditional Chinese culture, the international reach of Chinese film and television, the symbolic significance of the 2008 Summer Olympics, and the sharp increase in both international students studying in China and inbound foreign tourism. He also noted that China’s GDP had more than tripled since the pre-reform era. Combined with its foreign aid efforts and market openness, these factors, in his view, had substantially enhanced China’s global attractiveness.

In 2009, Professor Nye published an article exploring the dynamics of U.S.–China soft power relations. He argued that “there is little evidence that the increase in China soft power is aimed at counterweighing US soft power,” and that “the perception that the Chinese model of combining market economy with one-party rule (Beijing Consensus) will challenge the Western model (involving open markets, democracy, and rule of law), and values are dubious.” He further proposed that “the soft power interaction between the United States and China thus need not be seen as a competition, but rather as a more complex combination of competitive and cooperative forces.”

Nye frequently emphasised that “Soft power is not a zero-sum game in which one country’s gain is necessarily another country’s loss. If China and the United States, for example, both become more attractive in each other’s eyes, the prospects of damaging conflicts will be reduced. If the rise of China’s soft power reduces the chance of conflict, it can be part of a positive sum relationship.”

Many of his reflections on Chinese soft power, including this one, are collected in the book Soft Power and Great-Power Competition, which also features transcripts of my conversations with him. The volume provides readers with a deeper understanding of this vital and evolving topic.

In 2025, Donald Trump returned to the U.S. presidency. Shortly after taking office, he withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement on climate change and the World Health Organisation, and swiftly launched a series of global tariff and trade wars. As a result, U.S.–China relations deteriorated to a new low. Professor Nye expressed deep concern over these developments, believing that such actions would do great damage to U.S. soft power and would not, as promised, “make America great again,” but greatly weaken it. In one of his final published commentaries, he warned: “The prospect of a wholly disengaged, self-focused United States has troubling implications for world order.”

In his autobiography A Life in the American Century, Professor Nye emphasised that although the 21st century will not be an American century in the same way the 20th was, the American Century is not over. Rather, the United States must adapt to a changing global environment by adjusting both its domestic and foreign policies. Nye repeatedly returned to two key principles that he believed should guide American leadership in this new era: the need to share power in a world of growing diffusion, and the recognition that power is increasingly exercised through “positive-sum outcomes” rather than zero-sum competition. Although globalisation has encountered headwinds, he maintained that global interdependence remains a structural reality—and that isolationism is not a viable strategy. The only path forward, he wrote, is through engagement and cooperation.

In Do Morals Matter?, he wrote that a nation must not only think in terms of “power over” others, but also recognise the importance of “power with” others. In an era shaped by the information revolution and globalisation, world politics is evolving in ways that no country, however powerful, can succeed by acting alone. When confronting global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, power becomes a positive-sum game. Empowering others, Nye argued, can help a country accomplish its own goals.

He believed both American and Chinese leaders must internalise this logic of cooperation. Nye urged that mutual empowerment—not rivalry—should define great power relations. Nye argued that if both nations could increase their appeal in each other’s eyes, the likelihood of destructive conflict would be significantly diminished. . . .

At the end of his autobiography, Nye assesses the relationship between China and the United States, stating that “the greatest danger we face is not that China will surpass us, but that the diffusion of power will produce entropy, or the inability to get anything done.” What concerns him even more is the domestic issues in the U.S., but he remains optimistic: “For all our flaws, the US is an innovative society that, in the past, has been able to recreate and reinvent itself. Maybe Gen Z can do it again. I hope so…The best I can do is leave them my love and a faint ray of guarded optimism.” . . .

Henry Huiyao Wang
Founder & President of the Center for China and Globalization (CCG)
May 8, 2025, Beijing

– – – – – –

If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

East Asia, North America, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT,

Mediation injects new impetus of peace into a turbulent world

. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .

An editorial from the Global Times

On May 30, the signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) was held in Hong Kong. Senior representatives from 85 countries and nearly 20 international organizations gathered in the city, and 33 countries signed the convention on the scene and became founding member states.


Photo: www.fmprc.gov.cn

As the world’s first intergovernmental organization dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation, the IOMed provides a new platform for mediating disputes between countries, disputes over investment between the state and the people of other countries, and international commercial disputes.

The establishment of the IOMed is a historic breakthrough in the international dispute settlement mechanism. For a long time, settlement of international dispute has mainly relied on judicial adjudication and arbitration mechanisms, both of which have certain limitations. Mediation is based on respecting the wills of the parties, and explores win-win solutions through the assistance of a neutral third party, with the final decision made by the disputing parties. Hong Kong’s judicial practice shows that the settlement rate of court mediation cases is about 50 percent, which fully proves the unique value of mediation in resolving complex contradictions. This approach, which contains the wisdom of “harmonious coexistence,” has opened up a new path for dealing with international disputes with large cultural differences and high political sensitivity.

At present, the world is undergoing rapid change of a century, and various contradictions are intertwined. Using a “Cold War” confrontational mindset to deal with various global and regional issues has clearly deviated from the needs of the times and the development trend of the rule of law. In the existing international judicial system, developing countries often face difficulties such as lack of voice, insufficient applicability of rules, and high costs. However, some major countries are accustomed to handling international disputes through unilateral sanctions, often bypassing existing international rules and mechanisms and acting on their own. This not only fails to solve problems, but also gives rise to more contradictions.

(Editorial continued in right column)

Question related to this article:

How can we develop the institutional framework for a culture of peace?

Mediation as a tool for nonviolence and culture of peace

Does China promote a culture of peace?

(Editorial continued from left column)

The international community has never been so eager to resolve disputes peacefully. From the historic reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran in Beijing to the signing of the Beijing Declaration on ending the division by various Palestinian factions, countries have seen the great potential and possibility of resolving differences through dialogue. The birth of the IOMed is timely, and its establishment is an important step in promoting the development of the international order to a more just and reasonable direction.

The IOMed advocates for the peaceful and amicable settlement of international disputes, aiming to build more harmonious international relations and embody an inclusive and pluralistic culture of the rule of law. Against the backdrop of profound adjustments in the global order, the IOMed provides the international community with a public good of global rule of law that is peaceful, just, trustworthy, and efficient.

At the level of international law, the IOMed represents an innovative response to the United Nations (UN) Charter’s principle of peaceful dispute settlement. It breaks through the traditional methods of handling disputes – whether between countries, between countries and investors, or between equal commercial entities – offering the greater flexibility, convenience, lower costs and more effective implementation. At the same time, it complements and enhances existing international dispute settlement mechanisms such as litigation and arbitration, helping to build a more comprehensive and diversified system for resolving international disputes.

Through consultations among the negotiating parties, Hong Kong was agreed to be the headquarters of the IOMed – a strong recognition by the international community of the culture of the rule of law under “one country, two systems.” The return of Hong Kong itself is a successful example of dispute settlement, and its prosperity and stability stand as a testament to the vitality of “one country, two systems.”

With the advantages of both common law and civil law traditions, a mature legal environment, and extensive experience in “super mediation”, Hong Kong – an international metropolis backed by the motherland and connected to the world — offers an ideal environment for the development of the IOMed. This “rising star of international rule of law,” the IOMed, will surely shine in tandem with the “pearl of the orient,” creating a future of shared brilliance.

As the world reaches the crossroads of history, what countries are calling for is not an arena of power, but a dialogue platform that transcends the zero-sum mentality of “you win, I lose” and promotes the friendly settlement of disputes. This is the mission of the IOMed. It carries not only the practical need to resolve disputes, but also the civilized pursuit of eliminating conflicts through dialogue and resolving disputes through consultation. The healthy growth of this seedling of peace requires the care and support of the international community. We welcome more countries to join hands to nurture it.

– – – – – –

If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, East Asia, global,

300 Participants from 60 Countries Attend Annual Forum of China and Globalization

. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

Excerpts from an article from the Center for China and Globalization

The 11th Annual China and Globalization Forum, jointly convened by the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), and co-organised by the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS) and the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF), concluded successfully in Beijing after a three-day agenda from May 22 to 24.


Video of conference

The forum brought together over 300 participants from nearly 60 countries across five continents, including former policy-makers, ambassadors, policy experts, scholars, international organisation representatives, and media professionals.

The opening session took place on the morning of May 22 at the Grand Millennium Beijing and was moderated by Mabel Lu Miao, Co-founder and Secretary General of CCG. . . .

Following the opening, the first roundtable session titled “Renewing Global Governance and Multilateralism in Uncertain Times” was co-chaired by Henry Huiyao Wang and Mabel Lu Miao. . . .

In the afternoon, the forum continued with three thematic roundtables. The first, titled “US-China Trade War Narratives in an Era of Great Power Competition,” was held in partnership with the Asia Society. The session was co-chaired by:

– Henry Huiyao Wang

– Jing QIAN, Co-founder and Managing Director, Center for China Analysis (CCA) at Asia Society Policy Institute . . .

The second roundtable in the afternoon, themed “Reshaping Frameworks for Global Governance: The Role of China and the Global South,” was held in partnership with the Doha Forum. The session was chaired by Mabel Lu Miao and featured special remarks from Henry Huiyao Wang and Maha Al Kuwari, General Manager, Doha Forum. . . .

(article continued in right column)

Question for this article:

Does China promote a culture of peace?

(Article continued from the left column)

The last roundtable of the day was themed “Maintaining International Regulatory Cooperation in A Multipolar World.” Held in partnership with the Centre on Regulation in Europe (CERRE), the session was chaired by Zach Meyers, CERRE Director of Research. . . .

On May 23, the Ambassadors’ Roundtable focused on the theme “Multilateralism in a Multipolar World” and was co-chaired by Henry Huiyao Wang, James Chau, and Tammy Tam, Editor-in-Chief, South China Morning Post. . . .

This was followed by a policy dialogue roundtable themed “EU-China at 50: The State of the Bilateral Relationship in a Changing World.” It was co-organised with the European Policy Centre (EPC) and chaired by Henry Huiyao Wang and Declan Kelleher. . . .

The afternoon was dedicated to the Middle East Forum, held in partnership with the Amersi Foundation, which comprised two sessions:

Panel 1: The Emerging New Middle East Order – moderated by Henry Huiyao Wang and Mohamed Amersi, Founder and Chairman, The Amersi Foundation

Panel 2: Key Challenges – covering three topics: Iran nuclear talks, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and state fragility.

The sessions were moderated by Henry Huiyao Wang, Mabel Lu Miao, Zoon Ahmed, Research Fellow, CCG, and Mohamed Amersi, Founder and Chairman, The Amersi Foundation. . . .

In parallel, a closed-door roundtable under the EU-China Think Tank Exchanges project was held, moderated by SHEN Wei, Qiushi Distinguished Chair Professor at Zhejiang University and Nonresident Senior Fellow at CCG, and Victor de Decker, Research Fellow for the Europe Program at the Egmont Institute. . . .

On May 24, CCG and the Alliance of Global Talent Organizations (AGTO) arranged a field visit for over 30 international participants from nearly 20 countries.

Participants visited the CCG Beijing Academy, Beijing’s sub-centre in Tongzhou, including the “Two Zones” [National Integrated Demonstration Zone for Greater Openness in the Services Sector and the China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone] exhibition hall, and AGTO Beijing Office.

The group also visited historical landmarks in the Grand Canal Cultural Tourism Zone and the Han Meilin Art Museum. These activities provided international guests with insights into Beijing’s cultural heritage and openness, while also exploring opportunities for future cooperation.

– – – – – –

If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

East Asia, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

English bulletin June 1, 2025

. THE PEACE MANIFESTO RE-LAUNCHED .

It has become increasingly difficult to find good news to report this year.

The most terrible war crimes in recent memory continue to be committed by Israel against the Palestinian people including their genocide of Gaza. And this continues to receive the support of the United States. Meanwhile Europe is rearming as if in preparation for their Third World War, failing to consider that nuclear weapons have changed the nature of war. And the United States continues to lead the world in armaments, announcing their largest military budget of history. Wars continue in the Ukraine and Sudan and India and Pakistan started what could have become nuclear war.

As The Elders declare, “The risk of nuclear catastrophe is higher than at any time since the Cold War. Leaders are failing to uphold international law, and eroding basic norms. We are regressing into a world in which the rule of law is being replaced by rule by power, with a destabilising new nuclear arms race.”

The few good news stories below consist mostly of protests against these wars and rearmaments.

As we said in last month’s bulletin, CPNN cannot be content to report the news for a culture of peace.

WE MUST CREATE IT.

Last month the launch of the Peace Manifesto 2025 did not achieve the results we hoped for. Perhaps you are one of the hundreds of people who went to our website but failed to publish the Manifesto on social media. And perhaps you found, as we were told by some readers, that the instructions were too complicated to follow.

So we are relaunching the initiative this month, with a revised website that provides a simple procedure to post the Manifesto on social media.

Please go to our website, https://activatingpeace.org and click on facebook, instagram or linkedin to share the Manifesto.

To become successful, there needs to be enough posts that the Manifesto “goes viral” and continues to do so “until we win” a culture of peace.

It is not enough to report. We must create the good news!

Here is the new frontpage of our website

THE PEACE MANIFESTO

I’m sick and tired of the culture of war, so I give my support to the culture of peace, and I will keep spreading the word on social media until we win. I live in City, Country .

LIKE IT! SHARE IT! MAKE IT VIRAL! CREATE A GLOBAL MOVEMENT!

To share the Peace Manifesto using Facebook, click here.

To share the Peace Manifesto using Instagram, click here.

To share the Peace Manifesto using Linkedin, click here.

To share the Peace Manifesto using Twitter-X, click here.

For educators who wish to promote the Peace Manifesto in a school class or a youth group, click here.

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY


The People’s Peace Summit in Jerusalem, final day. Israelis and Palestinians together to say ‘Peace now’

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT


78% of Russian students consider climate change to be a problem

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION


Joint Statement on Palestine by Seven European Countries

WOMEN’S EQUALITY


Urgent Call for Peace Launched by Indian and Pakistani Feminists
  

TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY


Pope Leo XIV appeals for ‘no more war’ in first Sunday message

EDUCATION FOR PEACE


Kurdish language at the forefront of Turkey’s peace process: Recognition demands intensify

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION


Uruguay: The 5th World Forum of Cities and Territories of Peace

HUMAN RIGHTS


Tens of thousands protest in The Hague against Gaza war

Uncategorized,

International Women’s Day: Africa and Asia

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

A press survey by CPNN

Here are the photos from Africa and Asia.

BANGLADESH, SYLHET

Ethnic Community Development Organization (ECDO) observed International Women’s Day 2025 at the Hiluachhara Tea Garden.

CHINA

China Celebrates International Women’s Day with Cultural & Career Events | AG15 (YouTube)

INDONESIA, BANDUNG
“We can be killed just because we are women. Indonesia must eliminate femicide” (Antarafoto)

INDONESIA, JAKARTA
“Provide fair maternity and menstrual leave rights without discrimination” (Antarafoto)

JAPAN, TOKYO

Happy International Women’s Day from Tokyo! (TikTok)

NIGERIA, ABUJA

On 7 March 2025, the WHO Nigeria offices buzzed with energy as staff joined the global celebration of International Women’s Day: “commitment to gender equality and empowerment as essential drivers of health for all.”

NIGERIA, LAGOS

In the Nigerian capital of Lagos, thousands of women gathered at the Mobolaji Johnson stadium, dancing and signing and celebrating their womanhood. Many were dressed in purple, the traditional color of the women’s liberation movement. Photograph: Sunday Alamba/AP. (The Guardian)

Question related to this article:
 
International Women’s Day

Prospects for progress in women’s equality, what are the short and long term prospects?

PAKISTAN, ISLAMABAD

Women participate in an Aurat March held to mark International Women’s Day in Islamabad, Pakistan, Mar. 8, 2025. EFE/EPA/SOHAIL SHAHZAD 78595. (EFE)

PAKISTAN, LAHORE

Supporters of a religious party ‘Jamaat-e-Islami’ gather in support of women of Gaza, marking International Women’s Day, in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M Chaudary) (Associated Press News)

PHILIPPINES, MANILA

Members of women’s rights group, ‘Gabriela’, perform to mark International Women’s Day in Manila, Philippines, Mar. 8, 2025. EFE/EPA/FRANCIS R. MALASIG. (EFE)

SRI LANKA

he 84-year-old Sri Lanka Federation of University Women, under its President Colonel Dr Udula Krishnaratne, ably supported by her team – celebrated International Women’s Day. The programme was intended to promote education for girls from the primary to the tertiary levels, provide better sustenance to needy families and ease economic hardship, and help improve the overall health of women and girls. (Sunday Times)

THAILAND, BANGKOK

Under the theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, Empowerment,” the spotlight was on youth at the International Women’s Day 2025 celebration in Bangkok. (UN Women)

VIETNAM, HANOI

International Women’s Day parade in Hanoi, Vietnam. (YouTube)

Africa, East Asia, South Asia, WOMEN'S EQUALITY, , ,

Australia: Symbols, messages of peace mark interfaith gathering

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article by Kirralee Nicolle  from Salvos on line

Representatives from faith groups – including the Hindu, Baháʼí, Jewish, Sikh, Sufi, Alevi, Buddhist and Christian religions – gathered at Glenroy Community Hub in Victoria on 9 February to mark World Interfaith Harmony Week. 

The event was hosted by the Merri-Bek Interfaith Network, which includes Captain Steph Glover from Merri-Bek Salvation Army. Merri-Bek Corps members also led the group in singing ‘Make Me a Channel of Your Peace’ to begin the event, accompanied by the corps’ brass band. 

(continued in right column)

Question related to this article:
 
How can different faiths work together for understanding and harmony?

(continued from left column)

Steph said the event was quite a moving one, especially for those who have recently had windows to their offices smashed or buildings graffitied in incidents alleged to be religiously motivated. She said many Palestinian and Jewish residents in the area had been taking cover in fear of attacks. She said as a precautionary measure, the event, originally planned for an outdoor location, had been moved to an indoor one. 

She said reciting the Shared Act of Reflection and Commitment – a declaration spoken at the beginning of each meeting – reminded them of the values they all shared. 

“As faith leaders, we wanted to be the ones to go out and set an example and say, ‘Actually, we all might have slightly different beliefs, but what we do all agree on are these things’,” Steph said. 

Representatives from each faith tradition present at the event shared a message of peace through song, dance, prayers and spiritual readings. Attendees exchanged olive branches as a symbol of peace across religions. 

Steph described the Network as a “really, really close-knit community” which met once every couple of months.  

– – – – – –

If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

East Asia, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

China’s Renewable Energy Boom: A Record-Breaking Shift or Still Chained to Coal?

.. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ..

An article from Carbon Credits

China is making record-breaking progress in renewable energy. The country has already achieved its 2030 clean energy goal six years early. With massive investments and policy support, China is set to remain the global leader in renewable energy expansion. But can it sustain this rapid momentum while balancing energy security and economic growth?


Beating the Clock on Clean Energy: Surpassing Renewable Energy Targets

In 2020, China set a goal to install at least 1,200 gigawatts (GW) of solar and wind power by 2030. By the end of 2024, China had already surpassed this target, reaching this milestone 6 years ahead of schedule. This was made possible by aggressive investments, government policies, and a surge in solar and wind installations.

China’s solar capacity grew by an incredible 45.2% in 2024, adding 277 GW.  Wind capacity also saw a strong increase of 18%, with an additional 80 GW installed. Overall, total power generation capacity rose by 14.6% in 2024, driven mainly by renewables.

One major milestone was the completion of the Ruoqiang photovoltaic (PV) project. This massive 4-GW solar farm in the Taklamakan Desert is one of the world’s largest solar power projects. It is part of China’s broader strategy to peak emissions  before 2030 and transition toward cleaner energy sources.

This rapid progress is due to strong government support, record investments, and local manufacturers producing affordable solar and wind components.

Leading the World in Renewable Investments

China is the world’s largest market for low-carbon energy investment. In 2024, the country attracted $818 billion in clean energy investments—more than the combined total of the U.S., the European Union, and the UK. This accounted for ⅔ of the global increase in clean energy investments that year.

The world’s biggest carbon emitter’s commitment to renewables is reshaping its energy mix. In June 2024, wind and solar power combined surpassed coal in installed capacity for the first time. 

China’s 14th Five-Year Plan set a goal for renewables to supply 33% of its electricity by 2025. By 2026, solar capacity alone is projected to overtake coal as China’s leading energy source, with 1.38 terawatts (TW) of solar power expected—150 GW more than coal.

Remi Eriksen, CEO of energy consultancy DNV, once remarked that:
“Intense policy focus and technological innovation are transforming China into a green energy powerhouse.”

And one of these innovations is in the field of nuclear power.

Nuclear Power and SMRs: A Game-Changer for China’s Energy Future?

China is also investing heavily in nuclear power, with 29 reactors under construction, totaling 33 GW of capacity. This makes up nearly half of all new nuclear projects worldwide. By 2030, China will surpass the U.S. as the largest nuclear power producer, with a projected capacity reaching up to 320 GW by 2050.

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are a key part of China’s nuclear strategy. The country’s first SMR, a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTR-PM), began operations in 2023. Other SMR designs, including the ACP100 and NHR200, are under development. 

(Continued in right column)

Question for this article:

Are we making progress in renewable energy?

(Continued from left column)

These compact reactors will support industrial heating, electricity supply, and district heating. By 2050, China’s SMR capacity is expected to reach 35 GW, making it the leading global market for this next-generation nuclear technology.

China is quickly growing its renewable energy and advancing nuclear power. This makes it a leader in clean energy worldwide. Even though it still uses coal, the focus on renewables and nuclear is cutting carbon emissions a lot.

The Road to Net Zero: Can China Meet its 2060 Goal?

China has set ambitious climate goals. The country aims to peak its carbon emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2060. A key driver of this transition is energy independence, as China seeks to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels.

A recent report from DNV highlights China’s rapid progress. The country had 1.45 TW of renewable energy capacity online by the end of 2024 and is on track to increase its clean energy capacity fivefold by 2050.

By that time, renewables are expected to supply 60% of China’s energy needs, although fossil fuels will still account for around 40% of the mix.

Challenges and the Role of Coal

Despite this rapid progress, coal remains a significant part of China’s energy system. The country still consumes over 50% of the world’s coal and continues to build new coal-fired power plants. In 2022, China approved 6x more new coal capacity than the rest of the world combined.

The heavy reliance on coal is partly due to energy security concerns. Events like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and reduced rainfall affecting hydropower have made alternatives like gas and hydroelectric power more expensive.

Coal remains a backup energy source to support the country’s rising electricity demand, which increased by 6.8% in 2024.

However, China’s long-term goal is to reduce this dependence. The government is implementing policies to phase out fossil fuels gradually while ensuring energy stability. By 2050, China’s emissions are expected to drop by 70% compared to current levels, marking significant progress in its clean energy transition.

Future Outlook: A Renewable Superpower

China’s energy transition is at a critical turning point. The country’s investments and policy shifts indicate a strong commitment to clean energy.
By 2030, China’s total energy consumption is expected to peak and then decline by 20% in 2050 due to increased efficiency and electrification.

China aims for net zero by 2060, which is ten years later than the UN’s 2050 target to keep global warming under 1.5°C. So, while progress is strong, more efforts are needed to speed up the shift from fossil fuels.

Overall, China is leading the world in renewable energy expansion, breaking records in solar and wind installations. The country’s rapid growth in clean energy capacity is reshaping its power mix and reducing its reliance on coal. 

– – – – – –

If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

East Asia, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Women, Peace and Security: Mongolia, a Feminist-oriented Foreign Policy

. . WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

An article from the United Nations University

On 3 March 2025, UNU, in partnership with the Embassy of Mongolia in Japan, will co-host the symposium “Women, Peace and Security: Mongolia, a Feminist-oriented Foreign Policy”. This event will be held from 09:30–12:00 in the 2F Reception Hall at UNU Headquarters (Tokyo).

Under Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh, Mongolia has increasingly championed women’s issues in its diplomacy and foreign relations. In June 2022, Mongolia hosted the international conference on “Strengthening the Role of Women in Peacekeeping,” welcoming female peacekeepers from over 30 countries.


Photo: Provided by Embassy of Mongolia in Japan. Battsetseg Batmunkh is 4th from left.

In June 2023, Mongolia hosted a historic Meeting of Female Foreign Ministers in Ulaanbaatar. The first of its kind in Asia, the meeting gathered female ministers from France, Germany, Indonesia, Liechtenstein, Mongolia, and South Africa to discuss feminist foreign policy. The meeting produced the “Ulaanbaatar Declaration” to enhance women’s leadership and participation in addressing global challenges.

The Declaration included: “We note with deep concern the adverse impact of war, its humanitarian consequences for women and children, and for global food security, and urge all UN member states to cooperate in the spirit of solidarity and to support the UN Secretary-General in his efforts to address these impacts”. The Declaration reflects the strong focus of feminist-oriented foreign policy on cooperation and the need for creating an ecosystem for coordinated actions between nations rather than individual state actors pursuing narrow self-interest.

In 2024, Mongolia hosted the first World Women’s Forum, “Towards a Green Future”, which further built on the Ulaanbaatar Declaration.

This symposium at UNU will include a keynote speech by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia Battsetseg Batmunkh (to be confirmed), followed by a panel discussion on the integration of feminist principles into foreign policy, an audience question and answer session, and informal discussions and networking opportunities. The symposium will explore questions such as: What are the key principles of Mongolia’s feminist foreign policy? What are the roles of international actors, including the United Nations, in prioritizing women, peace and security issues? Can feminist foreign policy create an effective framework for achieving sustainable development?

(Article continued in right column)

Questions related to this article:

Do women have a special role to play in the peace movement?

(Article continued from left column)

This event will be held in English. Advance registration (by 28 February at 15:00) is required. Please click on the REGISTER button to access the online registration page.

UNU@50

This event is part of the UNU 50th anniversary celebration. To learn more, visit: https://unu.edu/unuat50  

Agenda

Opening remarks

09:30 — Tshilidzi Marwala, UNU Rector and Under-Secretary-General of the UN

09:40 — Representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Japan

09:50 — Representative of Female Ambassador Group, Tokyo Diplomatic Corps

Keynote address

10:00 — Battsetseg Batmunkh, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia (to be confirmed)

Panel discussion

10:30 — Integrating Feminist Principles in Foreign Policy

Moderator: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia

Panelists: Ambassadors from the Tokyo diplomatic corps, Tokyo-based researchers and UNU experts

Interactive session

11:10 — Q&A with audience

Closing remarks

11:35 — Summary of key points

11:45 — Closing address — Representative of UNU

Networking session

12:00 — Informal discussions and networking opportunities
 

– – – – – –

If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

East Asia, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

China, Japan reach 10 agreements on people-to-people, cultural exchanges

TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from the State Council of the Peoples Republic of China

Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, and Takeshi Iwaya, Japanese minister for foreign affairs, jointly attended the second meeting of a high-level consultation mechanism on people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Japan, in Beijing on Wednesday, [December 25].

The meeting resulted in 10 important agreements, as follows.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

First, the two sides will promote youth exchange visits, and encourage and support study trips between the two countries.

Second, the two sides will deepen cooperation in the field of education, strengthen the exchange of overseas students, and support primary and secondary schools in the two countries to establish sister schools and institutions of higher education to carry out inter-school cooperation.

Third, the two sides will support tourism cooperation and introduce more facilitation measures to promote mutual visits between tourists from the two countries.

Fourth, the two sides will build more bridges for exchanges between sister cities and make good use of mechanisms and platforms such as the China-Japan Governor Forum, the China-Japan-ROK Cultural Exchange Year and the Culture Cities of East Asia to expand friendly exchanges at the local and non-governmental levels.

(Continued in right column)

Question related to this article:

Solidarity across national borders, What are some good examples?

(Continued from left column)

Fifth, the two sides will strengthen sports exchanges and cooperation, and support each other in hosting major sports events such as the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in 2026.

Sixth, the two sides will support continued cooperation in film, television, music, publishing, animation, games and other cultural and entertainment industries, exchange visits of high-level art groups, and support the translation and publication of classic works between the two countries.

Seventh, the two sides will strengthen exchanges and cooperation between media and think tanks, play a positive role in bilateral relations, and strive to improve public opinion and the environment for public opinion. The two sides will support exchanges and cooperation in new media and encourage exchanges between positive vibes of the two countries.

Eighth, the two sides will conduct exchanges between women’s groups and share experience on promoting the common development of men and women. China invites Japan to attend the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women.

Ninth, the two sides will build the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai, into a platform for exchanges and friendship between the two peoples. China supports Japan in hosting the expo, while Japan welcomes China’s participation and will provide assistance in the preparation and operation of the China Pavilion.

Tenth, the two sides will hold the third meeting of China-Japan high-level consultation mechanism on people-to-people and cultural exchanges in Japan in due course.

Noting that next year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Wang said that the purpose of remembering this history is to draw lessons from it and cherish the hard-won peace.
China hopes and believes that Japan can once again demonstrate its determination for peaceful development and work with China to promote the sound and stable development of China-Japan relations in the spirit of facing history squarely and looking to the future, said Wang.

Iwaya said Japan is willing to work with China to improve the quality of people-to-people exchange projects, deepen exchanges between sister cities and take more measures to facilitate personnel exchanges.

(Editor’s note: Thank you to TFF Transnational Foundation and Jan Oberg for alerting us to this story. The official Japanese report of the meeting confirms the agreements.)

– – – – – –

If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

East Asia, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Nobel Peace Prize 2024 to Nihon Hidankyo against the menace of nuclear weapons

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .

Excerpts from presentation speech by Jørgen Watne Frydnes, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, 10 December 2024.

Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, is receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for 2024 for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again. . . . Thirteen Nobel Peace Prizes have been awarded, in full or in part, for peace efforts of this kind. On each occasion, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has warned against the menace of nuclear weapons. This year, that warning is more urgent than ever before. 


Frame from video of Tanaka’s speech

As 2025 approaches, the world is entering what many analysts characterise as a new, more unstable nuclear age. The role of nuclear weapons in international affairs is changing. The nuclear powers are modernising and upgrading their arsenals. New countries appear to be preparing to obtain nuclear weapons. Key arms control agreements are expiring without being replaced. And threats to use nuclear arms in ongoing warfare have been made openly and repeatedly. . . .

Nihon Hidankyo and the Hibakusha – the survivors of the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki – have never wavered in their efforts to erect a worldwide moral and legal bulwark against the use of nuclear weapons. . .

To our dear guests from Nihon Hidankyo – to Terumi Tanaka, Toshiyuki Mimaki and Shigemitsu Tanaka – and to all the Hibakusha here today: It is an honour to be your hosts on this historic occasion, and we wish to express our deep gratitude for the outstanding and vital work you have performed in the course of your lives, and for all that you continue to do.

You did not resign yourselves to victimhood. You defined yourselves as survivors. You refused to sit in silent terror as the great powers led us through long periods of nuclear armament. You stood tall and shared your unique personal testimony with the entire world.  

A light in the darkest night. A path forward. You give us hope. . . .

– – – –

Excerpts from the speech of Terumi Tanaka on behalf of Nihon Hidankyo

Thank you for your introduction. I am Terumi Tanaka, one of the three Co-Chairpersons of Nihon Hidankyo. I am honored to speak on behalf of Nihon Hidankyo, the Nobel Peace laureate this year.

We established Nihon Hidankyo, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, in August 1956. Having ourselves survived the inhumane impacts of the atomic bombings, damage unprecedented in history, we launched this movement to ensure such suffering would never be repeated, with two basic demands. The first demand is that the State which started and carried out the war should compensate victims for the damage caused by the atomic bombs, in opposition to the Japanese government’s assertion that, “the sacrifice of war should be endured equally by the whole nation.” The second is to demand the immediate abolition of nuclear weapons, as extremely inhumane weapons of mass killing, which must not be allowed to coexist with humanity. . . .

I am one of the survivors of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. At the time, I was 13 years old, at home, around 3 kilometers east of ground zero.

It was August 9, 1945. I suddenly heard the buzzing sound of a bomber jet, and was soon after engulfed in a bright, white light. Surprised, I ran downstairs and got down on the floor, covering my eyes and ears with my hands. The next moment, an intense shock wave passed through our entire house. I have no memory of that moment, but when I came to my senses, I found myself under a large, glass sliding door. It was a miracle that none of the glass was broken, and I was somehow spared injuries.

Three days later, I sought out the families of my two aunts who lived in the area near the hypocenter. It was then that I saw the full devastation of the bombing of Nagasaki. Walking with my mother, we went around a small mountain. Reaching a pass, we looked down in horror. Blackened ruins spread out as far as the port of Nagasaki, some three kilometers away. . . .

(Continued in right column)

Question related to this article:
 
Can we abolish all nuclear weapons?

The Nobel Peace Prize: Does it go to the right people?

(Continued from left column)

By the end of that year, 1945, the death toll in the two cities is thought to have been approximately 140,000 in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki. 400,000 people are estimated to have been exposed to the atomic bombs, suffering injuries and surviving exposure to radiation. 

The survivors, the Hibakusha, were forced into silence by the occupying forces for seven years. Furthermore, they were also abandoned by the Japanese government. Thus, they spent more than a decade after the bombings in isolation, suffering from illness and hardship in their lives, while also enduring prejudice and discrimination.

The United States hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll on March 1, 1954 resulted in the exposure of Japanese fishing boats to deadly radioactive fallout, or the “ashes of death.” Among others, all 23 crew members of the Daigo Fukuryu Maru were exposed to radiation and developed acute radiation sickness, and the tuna they caught were discarded. This incident triggered a nationwide petition calling for a total ban on atomic and hydrogen bombs and tests, which spread like wildfire throughout Japan. This gained over 30 million signatures and in August 1955, the first World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs was held in Hiroshima, followed by the second in Nagasaki the following year. Encouraged by this movement, A-bomb survivors who participated in the World Conference formed the Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations, Nihon Hidankyo, on August 10, 1956 in Nagasaki.

In our founding declaration, Nihon Hidankyo expressed our determination to “save humanity from its crisis through the lessons learned from our experiences, while at the same time saving ourselves.” We launched a movement demanding both “the abolition of nuclear weapons, and State compensation for the atomic bomb damage suffered.”

Our initial campaign resulted in the enactment of the “A-Bomb Sufferers’ Medical Care Law” in 1957. However, the content of the law was limited: besides issuing “Atomic Bomb Survivor Certificates” and providing free medical examinations, medical expenses would be paid only for illnesses recognized as atomic bomb-related by the Minister of Health and Welfare. . . .

In April 2016, A-bomb survivors around the world launched the “International Signature Campaign in Support of the Appeal of the Hibakusha for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons,” as proposed by Nihon Hidankyo. This campaign grew significantly, and over 13.7 million signatures were collected and submitted to the United Nations. We are overjoyed that on July 7, 2017, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted with the support of 122 countries.

It is the heartfelt desire of the Hibakusha that, rather than depending on the theory of nuclear deterrence, which assumes the possession and use of nuclear weapons, we must not allow the possession of a single nuclear weapon.

Please try to imagine — there are 4,000 nuclear warheads, ready to be launched immediately. This means that damage hundreds or thousands of times greater than that which happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki could happen right away. Any one of you could become either a victim or a perpetrator, at any time. I therefore plead for everyone around the world to discuss together what we must do to eliminate nuclear weapons, and demand action from governments to achieve this goal.

The average age of the A-bomb survivors is now 85. Ten years from now, there may only be a handful of us able to give testimony as firsthand survivors. From now on, I hope that the next generation will find ways to build on our efforts and develop the movement even further. . . .

To achieve further universalization of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the formulation of an international convention which will abolish nuclear weapons, I urge everyone around the world to create opportunities in your own countries to listen to the testimonies of A-bomb survivors, and to feel, with deep sensitivity, the true inhumanity of nuclear weapons. Particularly, I hope that the belief that nuclear weapons cannot — and must not — coexist with humanity will take firm hold among citizens of the nuclear weapon states and their allies, and that this will become a force for change in the nuclear policies of their governments.

Let not humanity destroy itself with nuclear weapons!

Let us work together for a human society, in a world free of nuclear weapons and of wars!

– – – – – –

If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, East Asia, global,